Exposure to weather, daily wear, and shifting frames can affect a door’s performance, appearance, and security over time.
This article discusses how often you should replace your doors, as well as signs it’s time for a replacement.
How Often Should You Replace Your Doors?
Doors are built to endure decades of daily use and exposure to the elements.
Exterior doors can last 20 to 30 years with proper care and maintenance. Interior doors, made from lighter materials, typically last 15 to 20 years.
As a general guideline, wooden doors should be replaced every 20 to 30 years. Steel doors can last 30 to 40 years, provided they’re not dented, warped, or otherwise severely damaged before that time.
Signs You Need To Replace Your Door
Think your door might be due for replacement? Keep an eye out for these signs:
Difficulty Closing
You’ll know it’s time to replace your door when it no longer performs its basic function: closing properly.
A door should open and close smoothly without any difficulty. If basic maintenance like replacing a lock or adjusting the doorstop doesn’t solve the issue, it’s often smarter to replace the door entirely. This is especially important for doors typically kept closed, such as those in bedrooms, bathrooms, garages, or entryways.
Maintenance won’t save a door with a warped or damaged frame, or one that no longer aligns properly with the latch. The same applies if the door sticks at the top or bottom, scrapes the floor, or refuses to latch even after hinge adjustments.
These signs usually indicate that the structure has shifted or deteriorated beyond a simple fix, preventing the door from closing properly.
Drafts or Leaks
If you feel air coming in around the edges of the door or notice water entering the gaps during rain, it’s a clear sign that the door is no longer sealing properly.
A common fix is to replace the weatherstripping, which can wear out over time. But if that doesn’t solve the issue, the door or frame has likely warped or deteriorated due to prolonged exposure to extreme temperatures, water damage, or poor maintenance.
Drafts and leaks that can result in higher energy bills and moisture damage, making door replacement the smarter solution in the long term. Rather than spending more on utilities, addressing the root cause helps prevent future issues and reduces energy costs over time.
Door Cracks
A door with visible cracks can lead to undesirable issues like decreased insulation, increased energy costs, and security risks. It can also cause pests to enter your home, which can be inconvenient if not harmful.
Cracks weaken a door’s structural integrity, making it easier to break or split under pressure. No amount of caulk or filler can fully restore the door’s strength or airtight seal once the material is compromised. This is a problem because it leaves your home vulnerable to break-ins.
Sealing the cracks also ruins the appearance of the door, lowering the aesthetic value of your home.
Scratches or Dents
Doors with scratches or dents don’t typically pose a security issue, since the damage is mostly superficial. But it ruins the aesthetic of your home and diminishes its value. Replacing old, scratched-up, dented doors makes your home look brand new, not only to your eyes but to potential buyers, too.
Curb Appeal
Your front door is one of the first things people notice about your home. If it looks outdated, scratched, dented, or damaged, the house can appear neglected. A visibly damaged or worn door signals that the home may be less secure or less well-maintained.
A replacement can not only boost the appeal of your home’s curb but also increase its security as well. Modern doors come with security features such as reinforced frames, multi-point locking systems, and impact-resistant materials that protect them from forced entry.
A door replacement isn’t cheap, but it’s certainly a lot more affordable than getting a new roof, painting your exterior, or installing new siding. It’s the quickest way to elevate the appearance of your home.
Insect Damage
Wooden doors are highly susceptible to insect damage, particularly from termites and wood-boring beetles.
You may not notice the damage insects are causing at first because it can take years for visible signs to appear. These pests often eat away at the wood from the inside out, weakening the door’s structure. By the time you spot the problem, the door may already be compromised and require replacement.
Here are common signs to look out for:
- Small holes or tunnels in the surface of the wood
- Sawdust-like material (called frass) near the base of the door
- Visible insects or wings near or around the door frame
- Soft or hollow-sounding wood when tapped
If caught early, minor insect damage can be treated. A pest control professional can eliminate the infestation, and you can fill or patch the small areas the insects have damaged.
But if the wood has been eaten away extensively, feels soft, or has lost its structural strength, repairing the door won’t do any good.
There’s also the bigger issue that, if left untreated, insects can spread into the walls, floors, or framing of your home. What starts as a small infestation in one area can quickly lead to costly structural damage throughout your property.
Replacing a damaged door and addressing the infestation early can help prevent insects from gaining further access and protect the rest of your home from being compromised.
How Much Does a Door Replacement Cost?
The cost of replacing a door can range anywhere between $1,000 and upwards of $10,000, depending on the cost of the materials, the type of door, the size of the door, and the complexity of the installation.
Custom sizing, decorative glass inserts, upgraded security features, or energy-efficient materials can all raise the price of the replacement.
Exterior doors, especially front entry doors, tend to be more expensive than interior doors due to their durability and security requirements. Hardware upgrades, door removal, and insulation may also impact the final total.
Here’s what to expect when purchasing a replacement door without installation fees:
- Basic front door (steel or fiberglass, no additional features): $300 to $600
- Mid-range front door (decorative glass, better insulation, upgraded finish): $800 to $2,000
- High-end front door (custom wood, wrought iron, sidelights, or smart locks): $3,000 to $10,000+
- Interior door (hollow core, standard size): $50 to $200
- Interior door (solid core or custom design): $200 to $500
Installation often comes at a separate fee, usually between $150 to $1,000+, depending on the location, door type, and work required to install the door. Urban areas have higher labor costs than rural areas, and larger doors tend to cost more than standard-sized doors.
You may also need to put aside several hundred dollars for additional repairs like frame replacement or threshold adjustments, especially if the door hasn’t been replaced in a long time or has water damage.
Looking To Replace Your Door?
If your door appears worn, damaged, or no longer functions properly, it might be time for a replacement.
For over 60 years, Evergreen Door and Window has provided high-quality replacement doors that enhance your home’s appearance and security. Contact us today to get a free quote, and our dedicated sales team can help you find the best door that fits your home.
FAQs
Does door replacement include a frame?
It depends on the type of door you purchase.
Prehung doors come already attached to a new frame with hinges and often include weatherstripping. This type of door is ideal if your existing frame is damaged, warped, or outdated.
Meanwhile, a slab door doesn’t include the frame, just the door itself with no hinges or hardware. Slab doors are typically used when the existing frame is still in good condition and the new door is the exact same size.
If you’re unsure whether to get a prehung door or slab door, leave it to our professionals to choose the best option suited for you.
How long do door hinges last?
The average lifespan of a door hinge falls between 10 to 15 years. You’ll know they need to be replaced when the hinge appears rusted, makes audible squeaking noises (that no amount of lubrication can fix), or if the door starts sagging or sticking.
